Abstract: Disclosed are techniques such as roll to roll processing to produce membrane valves in microelectromechanical systems that are integrated with micro-pumps that include a pump body having compartmentalized pump chambers. One application of this technology is as a valve assembly for a gas concentrator that includes a first micro pump for feeding an input gas stream, a second micro pump to supplying a vacuum and at least one sieve bed having a zeolite. The gas concentrator uses the valve assembly for controlling entry of gas from the first micro pump into the sieve bed and the second micro pump to vent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bi-directional exhalation valve useful for many applications such as in CPAP devices. The exhalation valve includes a valve body having a center chamber, side chambers, and bidirectional ports coupled to the center chamber via passages and a mechanism that provides fluid ingress into the bi-directional valve in a first mode of operation or fluid egress from the bi-directional valve in a second mode of operation. Unidirectional ports are coupled to the plurality of bidirectional ports to provide providing fluid egress from the valve in the second mode of operation, and a unidirectional port provides fluid ingress into the bi-directional valve in the first mode of operation. A mechanism including a center paddle, side paddles, and a shaft are arranged in an elongated compartment of the valve body, such that the shaft is pivots and the central and side paddles open and close corresponding ones of the input and output ports.

Abstract: Discloses is a micro-pump that includes a pump body having a compartmentalized pump chamber, with plural inlet and outlet ports and a plurality of membranes disposed in the pump chamber to provide compartments. The membranes are anchored between opposing walls of the pump body and carry electrodes disposed on opposing surfaces of the membranes and walls of the pump body. Also discloses are applications of the micro-pump including as a heat remover and a self-contained continuous positive airway pressure breathing device.

Abstract: Roll to roll processing techniques are described to produce microelectromechanical systems having releasable and moveable mechanical structures. A micro-pump that includes a pump body having compartmentalized pump chambers, with plural inlet and outlet ports and valves and plural membranes enclosing the pump chambers is described as a representative example.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques such as roll to roll processing to produce inlet valves for controlling entry of fluid into a compartment of a device. The valve includes a body having a compartment and an inlet into the compartment, with the inlet being bifurcated by a pair of spaced wall portions of the body that form a confining region and which pair of spaced wall portions together with wall portions of the body provide a pair of spaced inlet portions into the compartment and a valve member having a first portion that is position-able within a portion of the compartment, an intermediate portion, and a second portion coupled to the first portion by the intermediate portion, with the second portion position-able within the confining region and with the second portion having an obstruction portion.

Abstract: Among other things, a device for use in electrolyzing water is described. The device comprises an electrolysis unit that includes a chamber, an ion exchange structure in the chamber, a cathode, an anode, a high pressure chamber, and a reservoir. The chamber is separated by the ion exchange structure into a first compartment and a second compartment. The cathode is in the first compartment and the anode in the second compartment. The reservoir is disposed in the high pressure chamber for storing water to be supplied to the chamber of the electrolysis unit. In some implementations, the ion exchange structure is a proton exchange membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a micro pressure sensor including a plurality of modules that are operative over different ranges of pressure. The modules include a stack of at least two module layers, each module layer including a module body having walls that define a compartment and with the defined compartment partitioned into at least two sub-compartments, a port for fluid ingress or egress disposed in a first wall of the body, with remaining walls of the body being solid walls, a membrane affixed to a first surface of the module body covering the compartment, and an electrode affixed over a surface of the membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible electronic circuit substrate that includes a device that is fabricated from layers of the flexible electronic circuit substrate as part of construction of the flexible electronic circuit substrate. Such devices could be functional units such as micro electro mechanical devices (MEMS) devices such as micro-accelerometer sensor elements, micro flow sensors, micro pressure sensors, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed is a micro flow device including a body frame defining a chamber and having a first port and a second port into the chamber. A first membrane carrying a first electrode is disposed over a first face of the body frame and a second membrane carrying a second electrode is disposed over a second face of the body frame. An axle member is disposed in the chamber affixed to the first and second membrane and a wheel member is disposed in the chamber about the axle member and spaced from the axle element by a gap. An interrupter feature is formed on the wheel, with the interrupter feature causing a variation in capacitance between the first and second electrodes during rotation of the wheel. Also disclosed are techniques for providing freely rotating, sliding, moving, etc. features in devices fabricated by roll to roll processes.

Abstract: A method of cleaning power cells in an array of power cells, comprising coupling at least one first power cell to second power cells in an array of power cells and causing the second power cells to drive the at least one first power cell with a voltage to clean catalyst on the at least one first power cell.

Abstract: Among other things, a gas storage system includes a group of capsules and an activation element coupled to the group. The group of capsules are formed within a substrate and contain gas stored at a relatively high pressure compared to atmospheric pressure. The activation element is configured to deliver energy in an amount sufficient to cause at least one of the capsules to release stored gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a valve-less micro pump configuration that includes plural micro pump elements, each including a pump body having a compartmentalized pump chamber, with plural unobstructed inlet ports and outlet ports and a plurality of membranes disposed in the pump chamber to provide compartments. The membranes are anchored between opposing walls of the pump body and carry electrodes disposed on opposing surfaces of the membranes and walls of the pump body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a micro pressure sensor that includes a body having a compartmentalized chamber provided by membranes anchored between opposing walls of the body and carrying electrodes disposed on surfaces of the membranes.

Abstract: A nasal interface for a device that attached to a user's nose is described. The nasal interface is particularly adaptable for a CPAP device and includes a device body having air passages through the body terminating in a pair of end portions, with each end portion having at least one outlet in a first surface of the end portion and a nasal interface supported on the body, the nasal interface comprising a pair of nose buds having flared fittings at end portions thereof.

Abstract: A method of cleaning power cells in an array of power cells, comprising coupling at least one first power cell to second power cells in an array of power cells and causing the second power cells to drive the at least one first power cell with a voltage to clean catalyst on the at least one first power cell.

Abstract: Among other things, a device for use in electrolyzing water is described. The device comprises an electrolysis unit that includes a chamber, an ion exchange structure in the chamber, a cathode, an anode, a high pressure chamber, and a reservoir. The chamber is separated by the ion exchange structure into a first compartment and a second compartment. The cathode is in the first compartment and the anode in the second compartment. The reservoir is disposed in the high pressure chamber for storing water to be supplied to the chamber of the electrolysis unit. In some implementations, the ion exchange structure is a proton exchange membrane.

Abstract: A self-regulating gas generator that, in response to gas demand, supplies and automatically adjusts the amount of gas (e.g., hydrogen or oxygen) catalytically generated in a chemical supply chamber from an appropriate chemical supply, such as a chemical solution, gas dissolved in liquid, or mixture. In some embodiments, the gas generator may employ a piston, rotating rod, or other element(s) to expose the chemical supply to the catalyst in controlled amounts. In another embodiment, the self-regulating gas generator uses bang-bang control, with the element(s) exposing a catalyst, contained within the chemical supply chamber, to the chemical supply in ON and OFF states according to a self-adjusting duty cycle, thereby generating and outputting the gas in an orientation-independent manner. The gas generator may be used to provide gas for various gas consuming devices, such as a fuel cell, torch, or oxygen respiratory devices.

Abstract: Among other things, a device for use in electrolyzing water is described. The device comprises an electrolysis unit that includes a chamber, an ion exchange structure in the chamber, a cathode, an anode, a high pressure chamber, and a reservoir. The chamber is separated by the ion exchange structure into a first compartment and a second compartment. The cathode is in the first compartment and the anode in the second compartment. The reservoir is disposed in the high pressure chamber for storing water to be supplied to the chamber of the electrolysis unit. In some implementations, the ion exchange structure is a proton exchange membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell is disclosed which is formed on a semiconductor wafer by etching channel in the wafer and forming electronics on the substrate electronically coupled to the fuel cell that controls generation of power by the fuel cell through electrical communication with the fuel cell. A hydrogen fuel is admitted into one of the divided channels and an oxidant into the other. The hydrogen reacts with a catalyst formed on an anode electrode at the hydrogen side of the channel to release hydrogen ions (protons) which are absorbed into the PEM. The protons migrate through the PEM and recombine with return hydrogen electrons on a cathode electrode on the oxygen side of the PEM and the oxygen to form water.

Abstract: Among other things, a gas storage system includes a group of capsules and an activation element coupled to the group. The group of capsules are formed within a substrate and contain gas stored at a relatively high pressure compared to atmospheric pressure. The activation element is configured to deliver energy in an amount sufficient to cause at least one of the capsules to release stored gas.